September 23, 2024

Good evening, council members. I live in the Cudell neighborhood of Cleveland, and last spring I came to speak to you about the importance of saving green space and trees at Cudell Park. Tonight I'm here to speak about another threat to the park and also to the neighborhood in general.

Legislation has been proposed by ward 11 councilman Danny Kelly that would remove the parcel associated with 10022 Madison Avenue from its protective pedestrian overlay district zoning, allowing what is now a prohibited gas station to be built on that site. Not only would this gas station be located immediately next to Cudell Park and Cudell recreation center, but also Marian Seltzer Elementary School, Story church, and a daycare center.

Councilman Kelly has stated that gas stations are the new corner stores, so I want to ask you all to think about the gas stations in your ward and what effect they've had on the surrounding community. Council President Griffin, there's a Sunoco located in ward 6 on Buckeye which also happens to be associated with the owners of this proposed gas station on Madison. That gas station, that Sunoco, has been a huge problem for the neighborhood with hundreds of calls for service to police in the last few years. Councilman Jones, there was a story on the news over the weekend about a gas station in Ward 1 where cars and people have been gathering, resulting in crime and violence.

These are not isolated instances. Gas stations are known not just for bringing traffic and pollution but also for attracting criminal activity. Gas stations do not contribute to the fabric of a neighborhood, they rip that fabric apart in order to do what gas stations do best, make money and feed on people's vices by selling beer, wine, cigarettes, and vapes. Regarding 10022 in particular, the owner secured a liquor license for the site before the sale of the property was even final, making their intentions of selling alcohol immediately next to a city park, a rec center, and an elementary school crystal clear.

Councilman Kelly has repeated that he's not interested in hearing from Ward 15 residents regarding this issue, and since you're in the process of redistricting and redrawing ward boundaries, I encourage all of you to examine what those boundaries look like right now. The vast majority of ward 11 sits south of I-90 with just a sliver extending north through ward 15 to reach former councilwoman Dona Brady's house on West Boulevard near Clifton. That gerrymander is so extreme that it was given a name, the Scorpion's Tail. Councilman Kelly's proposed gas station is located inside the Scorpion's Tail to ignore the residents of ward 15 when we will be the ones who have to live with the effects is unconscionable. The Scorpion's Tail does not exist in a vacuum and neither would this gas station. This is one community and what happens on this corner will affect all of us.

Evening and thank you for your time. I'm here as a resident of West 100th Street, I live about 600 feet from the parcel in question. I've been hesitant to make comment. There's been a lot of language used which seemingly aims to question who counts as a neighborhood resident, but there are approximately 685 acres in the neighborhood of Cudell. About 4 to 500 of those are zoned residential or commercial, and of those about 86 are within ward 11, the remaining more than 80% are ward 15. This is an inter-ward issue and I truly believe it needs to be treated as such.

I've lived in Cudell going on nine years. I'm involved in community work in the neighborhood. I represent my precinct on the Central Committee. I've seen many of you in executive committee meetings. I care deeply about the representation of this neighborhood and I will continue to do so when the ward boundaries change later this year.

I do want to comment on a few remarks from last week. I do admire all of the speakers regardless of their stances, they all called for progress. Nobody is speaking out against progress. Specifically what they are speaking out against is a spot zoning ordinance that would ultimately remove the ability of residents and Council to justify and argue for the future of our neighborhoods. This spot zoning, there was also a claim last week that people don't walk in the neighborhood. In addition to my household, numerous people walk in the neighborhood. They're walking to the [inaudible] and they're walking to businesses around the corner. Over the last decade numerous businesses have opened, the Palazzo restaurant reopened, Classic Euro opened, Good Earth Farm expanded, the Mega Convenient Mart was renovated, Story Church opened and there's ongoing renovation for a supportive housing facility for new mothers. There are four storefronts at West 98 that are consistently occupied by businesses. This is in addition to the city's investment in the fire station, the impending rebuild of Marion C Seltzer Elementary and the soon to break ground 18-million Depot on Detroit apartment building one block north of this location. This is not a stagnant location. It's part of a transportation demand management zone that city council recently created, and I implore you to stick with that vision. This spot zoning ordinance ultimately removes the guard rails. We understand the proposal for a gas station now but there is no official schematic and there's no commitment to outcomes for the community if a current or future owner wishes to change the site use. Adult entertainment nightclubs, auto repair, auto sales would all be permitted by right because this legislation removes Council's oversight of this parcel. I understand this feels like a quick solution to a problem but ultimately I feel this is undermining resident and council's ability to advocate for their neighborhoods, and I believe that ultimately this is eroding our ability to call for good land use and good governance. So I humbly ask Council today to pump the breaks on this legislation, consider the downstream implications from an ordinance with short-term goals and ultimately think of a more holistic and community-centric approach to these topics. Thank you.

I've had the opportunity to witness the work of Antoine Tolbert, also known as Chairman Fahiem. The Chairman is a gifted organizer with a passion for the well-being of young people. To these young people he is both a teacher and a mentor. While the juvenile justice system calls many of these young people at risk or troubled, Chairman Fahiem renames them as his favorites. With his support these troubled youth are transformed back into sons and daughters. These youth are the much anticipated leaders of an unfolding beautiful struggle. They will be the redemption of a much maligned, ignored, and disrespected people. They are our kids. They are working class black kids in one of the poorest cities in the US. The Chairman is an activist. He teaches our young people to speak out, but to do so thoughtfully and responsibly. He shows them to insert positivity and love into the actions they do in the name of our community. The words spoken and actions taken won't resonate with the people unless they know you care about them. The Chairman isn't shy to show he cares about our people and our community. The Chairman also shows love in actions that conquer fear. It is his love for our community that requires that he defend it.

Chairman Fahiem will always defend our right to self-defense. It's the type of love that crash his head first into the forces of white supremacy and domination. That's why to our community, Chairman Fahiem is the pillar of integrity and backbone. The unrepentant love of working class people is often rewarded with disdain by those who have careers based in this maintenance of the status quo, but that is not surprising. But the tolerance of injustice by the complacent will not win. We will not offer up to scrutiny those who show sincere love and leadership to our people. As a community of the working poor we will fight for Fahiem. As a black community we will fight for Fahiem. As a coalition of those who love justice and reject oppression in all its forms, we will fight for Fahiem. We reject poverty as well as racism. We reject mass incarceration as well as political frame-ups. Free Fahiem and free Palestine. And I'd be remiss to ignore the scheduled execution of DNA exonerated black Muslim brother in the state of Missouri, free Khalifa, AKA Marcellus Williams. Free Fahiem.

Before I begin I want to make it clear that I'm not here speaking solely for myself but also for the youth of Cleveland, Ohio. Every decision made within these halls affect us and yet our voices are rarely heard. No one seems to ask us what we the community and the youth want or need, so today I stand before you to offer a glimpse of what I've seen this summer and how it has impacted me.

In the streets of inner city Cleveland, I've seen young men and women like myself yearning for the freedom to simply enjoy our youthhood, yet the opportunity is stolen from us by the violence that lurks around every corner. It is a sad reality when every event I attend is shadowed by fear that it could be my last event, and it saddens me more when I can't count on the police to arrive in time to protect me and my peers.

This summer alone I witnessed a young man and woman around my age fall victim to gun violence. I've seen gas station owners who prioritize profits over our safety, willing to take our money but not protect us from the surrounding dangers. I've seen police officers allow pedophiles to drive themself to the police station after being caught selling drugs to a minor in exchange for sex. I've seen an innocent man arrested on false allegations simply to stop him from serving our community, and yes I am referring to Chairman Fahiem of New Era Cleveland. He's the man who gave us the youth a sense of security. We felt safe when him and New Era Cleveland was around at our gatherings. He's the one who stepped in and break many fights that could have ended up deadly. This summer, we the youth have seen a lot and been through a lot and only sense of security we had, y'all stripped that away from us.

So my question to you council members, do you care do you care about what we've experienced and how it impacted us? If you do what would you do to ensure our safety and security? I can tell you now that locking a man up who protected us on false allegations is not the way to go. Now Chairman Fahiem was here today and planned on speaking, but unfortunately, Chairman couldn't speak because one of the people behind Chairman's false charges deliberately came here to silence him. But I'm tell here before you today, let's show that Chairman won't be silenced, that when the truth comes to light, the true criminals will be exposed. Thank you. You have a blessed one. Justice for Chairman.

Thank you. Ordinance 347-2024 recently passed and changed the zoning map in my ward 15 neighborhood. This form-based code zoning legislation was co-sponsored by ward 6 council person Griffin and ward 10 council person Hairston. In fairness this legislation was also by departmental request from City Planning whose department head resides in the suburbs, so in effect the zoning map changes where I live are a result of people who live in ward 6, 10, and the suburbs. I worked hard this past year to help protect Cudell Commons Park, which is in my neighborhood too.

I am thankful it was saved. It is being upgraded, and the new Seltzer school is being built. This park is in two wards, 11 and 15. The Seltzer School in ward 15. My block club while mostly in Ward 15 is also in councilman Kelly's Ward 11. He has been a part of our meetings too. Two wards, one block club. Adjacent to Cudell Park and Seltzer School is 10022 Madison. Though located in ward 11 it is a part of my neighborhood. This summer, ward 10 council person Hairston and ward 11 council person Kelly co-sponsored ordinance 791-2024 to spot zone this parcel and rescind the pedestrian retail overlay district PRO to allow a gas station that sells alcohol next to the park and the school. Their ordinance ignores the recommendations of both zoning appeals and the City Planning Commission both rejecting a variance at this address. 791 also dismisses the work of former council members Westbrook and Brady who both established the PRO together via ordinance 13-2013. Their respective ward boundaries met at the intersection of West Boulevard and Madison and they enacted the PRO for and with the entire community by the way. Up until 15, 20 years ago this location has always been in one ward but ward 11 Councilman Kelly rejects these zoning decisions because he knows better and has said if you don't live in his ward you don't, quote, 'have a darn thing to say' unquote, unless maybe you're from ward 10 but that's not how good zoning decisions are made. Our city transcends ward boundaries. Danny Kelly, as Cleveland's only council member who does not live in the ward he represents, elected in Ward 11 but a ward 16 resident, live in one ward and represent the other. Of all people he should understand we have to do what's good for this city and not just your solo decisions and your ward boundary. Please council members, do not vote to allow a gas station next to a park in an elementary school, and reject 791-2024. Thank you.

Thank you. I moved to West Boulevard in 1985. The owners of Shaker Madison LLC live in North Royalton, they want a gas station at the former CVS site at West Boulevard in Madison Avenue. Like many neighbors, I oppose this gas station. Am I allowed to ask how many here oppose it? We already have two convenience stores within two blocks, we don't need one more selling more alcohol. A neighbor counted 15 gas stations within a 2 mile radius. Ward 11 council member Danny Kelly has said he cares only about the views of people in his ward. I live in the adjacent ward 15 but Cudell is my neighborhood and my opinion does matter. The developer's pretty drawing shows a bank branch in their plans. There is zero chance a bank will open here. Banks are moving out of our neighborhood. In fact the owners have no commitments from potential tenants. We are a historic district which makes this gas station unsuitable. Former council members Jay Westbrook and Dona Brady worked hard to win sane safe zoning here. Our zoning makes this illegal. Mainly though, I'm concerned about traffic and children.

May I show you a sketch I drew? Fire station 23 at West 98 sends out many fire trucks and EMS vans. They aren't the problem of course, but other drivers then have to figure out how to get out of the way in an already congested and confusing neighborhood. Speeding is normal on West Boulevard. Plenty of drivers treat our quarter mile block like a racetrack. Those of us in Cudell have witnessed many car crashes. One night at 1:30 a.m., a loud crash woke me. A car completely missed the 90° curve on West Boulevard, went straight ahead, sheared off a utility pole. The car and driver ended up in a Madison Avenue storefront. Many people go way too fast around the two 90° curves on West Boulevard, they can't stay in their lane. West 101 crosses this intersection. Drivers ignore that stop sign.

Danny Kelly and the owners might say a few fender benders are okay with them, but what about children walking to school at West 98. Yes, Sam Mohammad, children still do walk to school in our neighborhood where lots of people don't have cars. Children also walk to the recreation center, the Fine Art Center, and the city park. How many children live in the 116 units at Boulevard Terrace directly opposite this property? Do these men really believe our kids won't be run down by drivers in a big hurry to get to those gas pumps and cappuccino machines? I would not want to be Danny Kelly when the first child is killed. Thank you.

Good evening. Pleasure to see you all. Listen, tonight I stand at this mic and I can agree with some of everything that I heard. I don't think a gas station should be built next to a park. But now, my subject is accountability, okay.

I look at the city of Cleveland and I've been in these halls 47 years. 47 years. No one in here been 47 years. This mic is a beautiful thing but you know what, we don't get no answers. No answers come back about what we speak on. We run around and you all shove 90,000 pieces of literature in our mailboxes wanting us to vote. We vote, you get the paycheck. We vote and turn around, 20 years some of you all been sitting here, and guess what. The east side of Cleveland look like hell. Looks like hell. I cannot tell you how many streets I have ran down and found five houses on the street. No more than 15 houses on the street, and all the rest of them are abandoned lights or houses falling, okay. For us to be the voter, for us to be the taxpayer and a citizen in a city of Cleveland, I cannot understand how it is that we we don't have no accountability coming from you all. I'm not only on you all, because I step over to the mayor's office okay. I was working for the city of Cleveland. I asked to meet with the mayor. I met with the mayor. I found another problem, I asked him, could I meet with him, he said make an appointment. I go up to his office to make an appointment and his chief of staff tells me I'm not going to see the mayor, turn around, I tell him I'll go over his head. The next day I go to work to find out that I get fired over the telephone. so when it comes down to it [mic cut]